Originally bred by farmers in Australia, Heelers were intended to drive cattle over rough terrain. Farmer Thomas Hall combined multiple collie strains and the Dingo to get what was known… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 months ago
Melissa Bauernfeind
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Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.
If you are reading this, you may be wondering - why is my dog biting his foot? Your dog occasionally licking or chewing his foot is completely normal, but if… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 months ago
The puli is an unmistakable dog breed, covered from snout to tail with wild, naturally occurring cords. These compact dogs were bred to partner with humans as speedy, powerful livestock… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Summary The Norrbottenspets English name is Norrbotten spitz and sometimes Nordic spitz. These stunning dogs were named after the region of Sweden where they originated, Norrbotten province. However, they are… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Podenco Canario is a dog that has been hunting rabbits for centuries, and this breed still hunts in Spain. The term "Podenco" means "hound" in Spanish. A type of… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The English toy terrier is a small dog breed that belongs to the toy dog group. They were bred in the 19th century originally as a vermin hunter that was… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Not stripes or spots, but a pumpkin design! Pumpkin patch tarantulas have a design on their abdomen that looks like a pumpkin patch. Their abdomens are black with several bright… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The East Siberian Laika is an amazing hunting dog that also makes a great companion! 5 East Siberian Laika Fun Facts The East Siberian Laika is the largest of all… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Havashu is an affectionate companion dog bred from the people-pleasing Havanese and the lovable but stubborn Shih-Tzu beginning in the 1990s. This adorable, devoted, and playful pup is excellent… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Belgian Laekenois Introduction The Belgian Laekenois is an intelligent, hardworking dog. One of four (and perhaps the oldest) variations of the Belgian Shepherd, this energetic dog is distinguished by its… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Portuguese Podengo Introduction The Portuguese Podengo is a "primitive" dog. The Phoenicians bred it around 700 BC and introduced it to Portugal around 600 BC. The breed became more common… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Golden Irish dog is mixed between a Golden Retriever and an Irish Setter. These dogs were originally located in Ireland and formally bred to be used as gundogs. This… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Keagle is a designer breed that results from crossbreeding the Beagle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This breed was initially bred in Australia during the 1990s to create… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Braque Francais was initially bred for hunting but today make great companions. Their English name is the French Pointing Dog. Because these dogs are people pleasers and one of… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
German longhaired pointers are excellent hunters — tracking, pointing, and retrieving game over land and water. They can jump 6 feet high and make wonderful emotional support dogs. German Longhaired… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
“They are the only jacanas that migrate long distances.” Summary The pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a large wader from Southeast Asia. They inhabit wetlands and large lakes where they… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Although it’s quite the mouthful, the West Siberian Laika is also called the Zapadno-Sibirskaia Laika because of its Russian origin! Introduction West Siberian Laikas were originally used as farm dogs… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
This hummingbird has brilliant coloring and can travel from Alaska to Mexico in one migration. As one of nine species of hummingbirds in its genus, the Rufous hummingbird is named… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
“Cardinals have bright red, blue, or yellow feathers.” Summary The cardinal is a family of medium and large-sized songbirds endemic to North and South America. They inhabit many habitats, from… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Summary The Mini Lop is one of the cutest bunnies around, and that’s saying something. Not to be confused with the UK breed of the same name, this small lop… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Malchi is not a purebred but a crossbreed and relatively new on the scene. That’s why they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or any other… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The Tullimonstrum is more commonly known as the Tully monster or Tully’s monster. Its remains have only been found in Illinois in the United States. This relatively small creature resembled a… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
“Shortfin Mako sharks can jump 20 feet above the water!” The shortfin mako is one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, and at top speed, they can swim 43… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
"The heaviest great hammerhead shark ever recorded weighed a whopping 1280 pounds" The great hammerhead shark is found in warmer waters and is the biggest of nine subspecies. Generally, they… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
This formidable predator, the Great White Shark, has one of the most recognizable sets of teeth of all sharks. Just hearing a couple of tones on a movie soundtrack is… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Arctotherium is an extinct genus of big short-faced bears that first evolved millions of years ago and lived until the end of the last Ice Age. It is difficult to… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
The desert kingsnake is only found in the United States. Featuring a black or brown body with light-colored speckles all over it, the desert kingsnake may look intimidating, but it… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
“The Five-Step Snake” The Malayan or blue krait is one of those snakes that people call a “five-step snake.” This means that if it bites and envenomates you, you can… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
“The Salt and Pepper Snake” The elusive speckled kingsnake is one of the prettier members of its genus with its sleek black scales speckled with yellow-white. Though it may be… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 2 years ago
Summary Apes are part of the superfamily of primates, the Hominoidea. The Hominoidea encompasses a variety of species called "lesser apes" and "great apes." These include the gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee,… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Unau also called Linnaeus's two-toed sloth is thought to be the slowest mammal in the world. The sloth species is found in South America. It is nocturnal and lives… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
If you've ever wanted to say you own a dragon, the armadillo lizard is the perfect pet for you. Also called the armadillo girdled lizard, Golden-armadillo lizard, and dragon armadillo… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The blanket octopus gets its name from the unique skin webbing that connects together its legs in a manner that resembles a rainbow blanket. However, the trait for which these… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
“The Nyala is one of the oldest antelopes in Africa.” Scientists believe that this shy member of the Bovidae family has been around for close to 6 million years and… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
"The vicuña produces some of the finest wool in the world." A member of the camel family, the vicuña is perhaps lesser known than its close llama and alpaca relatives,… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
Pit Bulls are too big to be lap dogs, although they try to be. "Pit Bull" is an umbrella term that includes several dogs developed from bulldogs and terriers rather… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
“The Praying Mantis can be described as creepy but useful” “Praying mantis” is a term of art. All mantises or mantids belong to the Mantodea order, which has 2400 species.… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
"Bees are descended from predatory wasps, but they no longer prey on other insects." Any beekeeper knows that life on earth would be very difficult without these insects. Though not… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
“Not a bird, but a wasp with a powerful sting.” The tarantula hawk wasp gets its name because it hunts, rather like a bird of prey. In this case, the… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Flowerhorn fish, also known as the Flowerhorn cichlid, is an artificial creation of human breeders, thought to originate from Southeast Asia in the 1990s. This unique freshwater hybrid was… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The King Shepherd is available with either a straight or curly coat. In both cases, the King Shepherd's coat is a combination of multiple colors including brown, black, tan, and… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is one of only two breeds that hunters use as decoys while hunting. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, also known as the Toller,… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
"They are called cabbage white butterflies because they eat cabbage leaves while the caterpillar stage of life." The white butterfly lives all over the world including Australia, Asia, and Europe.… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Orb Weaver is a spider commonly found outside homes, in hedges, tall grasses, and trees. They are a helpful predator who feeds off the pest bugs we don’t like,… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
“The Australian Gecko is the most common lizard in Australia!” Geckos are so common in Australia that a visitor or inhabitant can find them just about everywhere. They’re in the… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
One of the most interesting facts about the American Leopard Hound is its diverse repertoire of different game animals. It can hunt raccoons, bears, bobcats, cougars, squirrels, and anything else… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
Originally called the Toy Spaniel, this is one of the oldest breeds in the toy group. They can be found in artwork dating back to the 16th century. History And… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Perro De Presa Canario's cat-like feet give it a distinctive, graceful gait. The Perro De Presa Canario is an ancient breed, dating back to the 15th century. Developed in… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The Pumi is one of three different types of Hungarian sheepdogs recognized by breeders. The other two are the Mudi and Puli, the latter of which the Pumi is a… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
The cottony soft texture of their coat is thought to be the result of a single genetic mutation during the early years of the breed's development. If you are looking… Read More
By Melissa Bauernfeind 3 years ago
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